The Scottish Highlands contains the United Kingdom's most extensive wilderness areas, some of which have been proclaimed as National Parks:

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The Scottish Highlands contains some of Europe's most extensive wilderness areas, some of which have been proclaimed as National Parks:

*The '''[[Cairngorms National Park]]''' - Scotland's largest National Park

*The '''[[Cairngorms National Park]]''' - Scotland's largest National Park

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*The '''[[Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park]]''' - Scotland's first National Park

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*The '''[[Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park]]''' - Scotland's first National Park

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*[[ Kylesku]] - Delightful village in the middle of nowhere with nothing around you for about 15 miles, excellent bar and restaurant at the Kylesku Inn with great views and if you drive on after Kylesku for about 20 minutes, some of the best scenery in Scotland is to be had. An hour north of Ullapool. Go on a ferry to see Britain's highest waterfall Eas-Coul-Aulin which is 650 foot high or Kerrachar Gardens which are both only accessible by boat from Kylesku.

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*[[Loch Lomond]]

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*[[ Dunrobin Castle]] - Gorgeous castle with fantastic exterior, gardens and falconry demonstrations from 11am and 2pm every day. About an hour and a half north of Inverness. Adults £8.00, children £5.00 OAP's and students £7.00 for castle and gardens. It should be noted that there are no falconry demonstrations on Sundays.

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*[[Rannoch Moor]]

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*[[Applecross]] - See the views from Britain's highest mountain road on the way to Applecross at about 2000ft! Isolated peninsula known for its rugged beauty. Seal trips with Calum's at Plockton guarantees seals on your excursion or your money back. Not far from Kyle of Lochalsh area.

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*[[Dunrobin Castle]] - Gorgeous castle with fantastic exterior, gardens and falconry demonstrations from 11am and 2pm every day. About an hour and a half north of Inverness. Adults £8.00, children £5.00 OAP's and students £7.00 for castle and gardens. It should be noted that there are no falconry demonstrations on Sundays.

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*[[ Inverewe Gardens]] - Lovely National Trust For Scotland garden, an hour north of Kyle of Lochalsh.

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*[[Applecross]] - See the views from Scotland's highest mountain road on the way to Applecross at about 2000ft! Isolated peninsula known for its rugged beauty. Seal trips with Calum's at Plockton guarantees seals on your excursion or your money back. Not far from Kyle of Lochalsh area.

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*[[Inverewe Gardens]] - Lovely National Trust For Scotland garden, an hour north of Kyle of Lochalsh.

==Understand==

==Understand==

==Talk==

==Talk==

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In nearly all areas of the Scottish Highlands, Scottish Gaelic or 'Gaidhlig' is spoken by some locals, however everyone speaks English fluently and will be happy to converse in it.

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==Get in==

==Get in==

===By Plane===

===By Plane===

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The main airport serving the Scottish Highland region is Inverness Airport [http://www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport.html], with scheduled flights to destinations around [[Scotland]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. There are smaller airports within the Scottish Highland region at [[Campbeltown]] and [[Oban]] that offer scheduled service to connecting flights in [[Glasgow]].

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The main airport serving the Scottish Highland region is Inverness Airport [http://www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport.html], with scheduled flights to destinations around [[Scotland]] and [[England]] as well as international scheduled flights to Dublin and Dusseldorf. There are smaller airports within the Scottish Highland region at [[Campbeltown]] and [[Oban]] that offer scheduled service to connecting flights in [[Glasgow]]; as well as Wick Airport which offers connecting flights to Edinburgh Airport and Stornoway Airport that can be reached from scheduled services to/from Aberdeen Airport.

===By Rail===

===By Rail===

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[http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/index.php First Scotrail] offers highland service from Glasgow and Edinburgh (via Perth) and Edinburgh (via Aberdeen) north towards Inverness several times a day. Service from Glasgow's Queen Street Station is offered to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig. There is Caledonian Sleeper Service available from London's Euston Station to/from Fort William and Inverness both via Edinburgh. This overnight service must be booked in advance.

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[http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/index.php First Scotrail] offers services from Glasgow and Edinburgh (via Perth) and Edinburgh (via Aberdeen) north towards Inverness several times a day. The [[West Highland Railway]] runs from Glasgow's Queen Street Station to [[Oban]], [[Fort William]] and [[Mallaig]]. There is also the Caledonian Sleeper from London's Euston Station to/from Fort William and Inverness via Edinburgh. This overnight service must be booked in advance. Passengers heading for Fort William in the seated carriage must change carriages at Edinburgh Waverley.

===By Bus===

===By Bus===

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[http://www.citylink.co.uk/ Scottish Citylink] offers frequent service along major Scottish Highland highways from bases in [[Glasgow]], [[Perth]] and [[Inverness]].

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[http://www.citylink.co.uk/ Scottish Citylink] offers a relatively frequent service to many parts of the Higlands from [[Glasgow]], [[Perth]] and [[Inverness]].

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[http://www.westcoastmotors.co.uk/ West Coast Motors] offers service throughout the Argyll and Bute region as well as to Glasgow's Buchanan Street Station.

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[http://www.westcoastmotors.co.uk/ West Coast Motors] offers bus services throughout the Argyll and Bute region as well as buses from Glasgow to [[Campbeltown]] and [[Oban]].

Some communities are served by the [http://www.royalmail.com/link/rm/jump2?CatId=400130&mediaId=7500097 Royal Mail's Postbus] service.

Some communities are served by the [http://www.royalmail.com/link/rm/jump2?CatId=400130&mediaId=7500097 Royal Mail's Postbus] service.

===By Car===

===By Car===

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There are numerous highways from the Central Scotland region into the Scottish Highlands. One of the most scenic involves the drive along Loch Lomond, out to Oban then north toFort William and along Loch Ness to Inverness.

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There are numerous highways from the Central Scotland region into the Scottish Highlands. One of the most scenic involves the drive along Loch Lomond, out to Oban then north to Fort William and along Loch Ness to Inverness.

==Get around==

==Get around==

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Scottish Citylink, West Coast Motors and Rapsons should help to get you moving around the region if you are not in a car. Air service means connections in Glasgow while there are only a few train lines through the region.

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Scottish Citylink, West Coast Motors and Stagecoach should help to get you moving around the region if you are not in a car. Air service means connections in Glasgow while there are only a few train lines through the region, notably the [[West Highland Railway]].

===Car===

===Car===

Line 66:

Line 67:

===Hitchhiking===

===Hitchhiking===

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Hitchhiking is a good way to get around in the Highlands, but has two significant downsides. First, the road network is quite sparse in places. Also, many of the country roads that do exist have very low traffic density.

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Hitchhiking is a good way to get around in the Highlands, with up to one in ten cars stopping for hitchhikers, but has two significant downsides. First, the road network is quite sparse in places. Also, many of the country roads that do exist have very low traffic density.

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==See==

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[[Image:Eilean_donan_castle.jpg|thumb|300px|Eilean Donan castle]]

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[[Dornie#See|Eilean Donan Castle]] is one of the most recognized castles in the world. It has appeared in many films including "Highlander" and James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough"

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==See==

==Do==

==Do==

Revision as of 21:04, 25 November 2012

Cliffs in Highlands

Applecross Highlands

The Scottish Highlands is the rugged northern and north-western portion of Scotland. This is the Scotland conjured up by visions of tartan, kilts, Bonnie Prince Charlie and all.

Dunrobin Castle - Gorgeous castle with fantastic exterior, gardens and falconry demonstrations from 11am and 2pm every day. About an hour and a half north of Inverness. Adults £8.00, children £5.00 OAP's and students £7.00 for castle and gardens. It should be noted that there are no falconry demonstrations on Sundays.

Applecross - See the views from Scotland's highest mountain road on the way to Applecross at about 2000ft! Isolated peninsula known for its rugged beauty. Seal trips with Calum's at Plockton guarantees seals on your excursion or your money back. Not far from Kyle of Lochalsh area.

Inverewe Gardens - Lovely National Trust For Scotland garden, an hour north of Kyle of Lochalsh.

Understand

Talk

In nearly all areas of the Scottish Highlands, Scottish Gaelic or 'Gaidhlig' is spoken by some locals, however everyone speaks English fluently and will be happy to converse in it.

Get in

By Plane

The main airport serving the Scottish Highland region is Inverness Airport [1], with scheduled flights to destinations around Scotland and England as well as international scheduled flights to Dublin and Dusseldorf. There are smaller airports within the Scottish Highland region at Campbeltown and Oban that offer scheduled service to connecting flights in Glasgow; as well as Wick Airport which offers connecting flights to Edinburgh Airport and Stornoway Airport that can be reached from scheduled services to/from Aberdeen Airport.

By Rail

First Scotrail offers services from Glasgow and Edinburgh (via Perth) and Edinburgh (via Aberdeen) north towards Inverness several times a day. The West Highland Railway runs from Glasgow's Queen Street Station to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig. There is also the Caledonian Sleeper from London's Euston Station to/from Fort William and Inverness via Edinburgh. This overnight service must be booked in advance. Passengers heading for Fort William in the seated carriage must change carriages at Edinburgh Waverley.

By Car

There are numerous highways from the Central Scotland region into the Scottish Highlands. One of the most scenic involves the drive along Loch Lomond, out to Oban then north to Fort William and along Loch Ness to Inverness.

Get around

Scottish Citylink, West Coast Motors and Stagecoach should help to get you moving around the region if you are not in a car. Air service means connections in Glasgow while there are only a few train lines through the region, notably the West Highland Railway.

Car

Many of the roads, especially in the more remote areas of the North West are single track with passing places. Driving there is a pleasure.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is a good way to get around in the Highlands, with up to one in ten cars stopping for hitchhikers, but has two significant downsides. First, the road network is quite sparse in places. Also, many of the country roads that do exist have very low traffic density.

See

Eilean Donan castle

Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognized castles in the world. It has appeared in many films including "Highlander" and James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough"

Do

Try hiking one of the long distance footpaths that cross the Highlands: